Means for sealing expansion joints



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Patented Nov. 13,1928.

UNITED STATES.

EUGENE ROBERT oDEN, or LANKE'RSHIIMII, CALIFORNIA.

' MEANS Eon sEALING EXPANSION JiN'rs.

Application filed September 29,v 1926. Serial No. 138,457.

My invention relates to liquid containers, such as reservoirs for storing water, constructed of concrete slabs or any slabs yof a material which contracts when lowered in temperature so that the joints betweenithe slabs are caused to expand.

Concrete reservoirs and like structures as heretofore made have employed means for sealing the oints between the slabs of which the container is constructed, but such means is ineffective to maintain a watertight seal for any length of time because the materials employed for filling the joints are porous, readily hardened, incapable of responding to expansion or contraction of the joints and are exposed to the deteriorating action of the water, air and sun. As a result, the percentage of failures in concrete storage reservoirs is high, especially so in reservoirs supported on earthen fills. In the building of reservoirs they are completed usually in the hottest months so that the concrete is expanded, making the joints between the slabs very narrow. It is at such times that the fillers are applied to the joints. Applying a roof and pumping water into the reservoir both effect a reduction in temperature of the concrete slabs, and hence a contraction of the slabs, resulting' in widening of the joints. However, the greatest contraction occurs during the winter months of extremely low temperatures when the joints are expanded to such a degree as to render the fillers totally ineffective in sealing the joints. rlhis temperature and resulting expansion problem also exists in'` fractures or cracks occurring in the slabs between the joints and under a head of water they increase in width. Disregarding contraction as a result of temperature, the expansion of joints may be caused by failure to provide a hard and compact earthen sub-base, in which event the weight of water imposed on the slabs causes an uneven settlement of the sub-base resulting in a pulling apart of the slabs and thereby producing enlarged joints which destroy the usefulness of the fillers.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a method of and means by which the joints between the slabs of a reservoir or the crevices occurring in the slabs can be inexpensively and permanently rendered watertightl` irrespective of the expansive and contractive action of the slabs.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a method of and means for sealing joints in reservoirs and the like in which the pressure or weight of the water contained in the reservoir is utilized to automatically maintain a water-tight seal at the joints.

I will describe Vonly one method of and (ill one means for vsealing joints in reservoirs and like structures embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l. is a view showing in vertical section a portion of a concrete storage reservoir having applied to the joint occurring between two slabs thereof one means of sealing the joint embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a .view similar to Figure lv showing the sealing means subjected to the weight or pressure of the water contained in the reservoir;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a concrete slab having a crevice therein to which is applied the joint sealing means embodying my invention. Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention, in its present embodiment, is shown applied to the joint 15 occurring be-` tween the confronting edges of two slabs 16 of concrete or other material, these slabs constituting a part of the bottom 4of a con# crete storage reservoir. Positioned beneath the slabs 16 and in spanning relation to the joint l5 is a concrete footing 17 which forms a base upon which the adjacent edges of any two slabs are supported.

In carrying out my invention, I have filled the joint l5 with a compound relatively soft and non-hardening. This filler or compound may consist of various substances, such as hot poured asphalt or asbestos paste. In the present instance, however, I employ oakum, indicated at 18, which is hammered down into the bottom of the joint so as to occupy about one-fourth of the joint. The oakum is then saturated with a suitable preservative, such as elastic carbon black, which renders the oakum waterproof. The remainder of the joint is filled with a combination of elastic carbon black paint and long fiber asbestos, which, when mixed together', preferably in equal parts, produce a putty-like substance v18a which never hardens and remains soft and flexible.

lVith the oint filled as just described, the upperV edge of the joint is now covered by the application of one or more sheets or strips of suitable material, and which will be herelll) CII

inafter referred to as membranes. The membranes are `designated at 19 and they may be constructed ot burlap, cotton cord fabric, felt or any material that is soft and pliable. In the present instance, I have shown a joint 15 provided with three memrmembranes laid into this hot coat so that when it cools the membranes are securely held in proper positions. lhc substance employed waterproof, so as to render the membranesimpervious to water and hence,

prevent the passage of water into Contact with the tilling compound.

In practice, a joint sealed in accordance with my method renders the joint permanently watertight, the membranes forming a protective covering for the filling compound so as to prevent water, air or the sun reaching and destroying the sealing property ot the compound so that the latter is maintained in a sott and pliablestate. With the introduction ot water into the reservoir, the membranes are subjected to the pressure or weight of the water, and thus portions ot the membranes spanning the joint 15 are iiexed downwardly as shown in Figure 2 to eXert the desired pressure on the filling compound which causes the latter to expand and thus effectively seal any pores or erevices ofthe joint, thereby rendering it watertight. In this manner, the filling compound is caused to completely till and effectively seal the joint should the latter expand under the contraction of the slabs.

`eterring now to Figure 3 I have here shown my method applied to the crevice 2O of a concrete .slab for rendering it watertight. In this adajgitation ot my invention, the upper end of the crevice is cut out or cnlarged transversely to torm an elongated groove 21 which is filled with the puttylike substance 18, and then one or more membranes 19 are'secured in covering and spanning relation to the crevice so that under a water load the membranes will be flexed to cause the filling compound to eX pand in and effectively seal the crevice.

Y Although I have herein shown and described only one method and one means tor sealing expansion joints embodying my invention, it is to rbe understood that various changes `and modil'ication may be made ithereiu without departing from the spirit oiZ the inventionandthe spirit and scope ol'4 the app-ended claims.

I el aim .as my invention:

1. In a reservoir structure, a pair of slabs cfa material capable of expansion and contraction and having their confronting edges relatively inclined to "form therebetween a wedge shaped joint, Aa non-hardening filler in the joint, and a covering bridging the joint and sealing'the tiller against the action of water in the reservoir, said covering be` ing sutticiently vflexible to respond tothe weight of water in the reservoir in a manner to place the ller under pressure so as to urge the filler towards the smaller end of the joint, to thereby compress the liller and maintain the joint watertight. b

2. In a reservoir structure, a pair of slabs ot a material capable of expansion and contraction and having their confronting edges spaced apart `and relatively inclined so as to torni a wedge shaped joint, a non-hard cning tiller in the joint, and a'coveringftor the joint, sealing the liller against the aetion of water in the reservoir and having a flexible portion spanning the joint, said portion responsive to the weight ot the water thereupon to compress the filler in thejoint. and thereby maintain the joint watertight, the covering being disposed at the larger end of the joint so that the water acting against the flexible portion will cause the filler to be uroed towards the smaller end of the joint and thereby be compressed.

B. In a reservoir structure, a pair of slabs ot' a material capable oi expansion and contraction and having their confronting edges spaced apart to form .a joint therebetween, a non-hardening ller in the joint, and a covering for 'the joint sealing` the i'iller against the action of water in the reservoir and having a -flexible portion spanningrthe joint, said portion responsive to the weight of the water tl'iereupon to compress the till er in the joint and thereby maintain the joint watertight, said portion being ot concavoconvex contour and normally presentinga convex surface to the water.

, et, The combination as embodied in claim 1 wherein said covering normally presents a. substantially convex suri'iace to thewater in the reservoir.

A cement reservoir including a recessedslab walled construction, the recess closed at its bottom and opening to the 'nterior of the reservoir, a non-hardening filler in the recess, and a Vflexible covering impervious to the action ot water, spanning the opening ot the recess and arranged in intimate contactwith said liller so that upon contrmdzion` oit the slab walled construction, the weight of water within the reservoir will act upon the covering to compressthe filler in the recess and maintain the latter watertight.

1 EUG INE ROBERT QDEN. n

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